On May 9, several law enforcement agencies collaborated to arrest 25 individuals for drug trafficking and to issue charges to 12 others in a huge methamphetamine drug bust. Oct. There are decisions and various powers given to authorities to award licenses depending on what the municipality's comfort level with how many pot shops they'll allow and how many grow facilities they will allow. This impressive collaboration between law enforcement agencies is a true success story for making our entire community safer.. Then approaching alleged members of this group was a whole other path that I had to go down. I think it is an argument for taking cannabis off the schedule of drugs, or at least getting it out of Schedule I drug classification at the federal level. Over the course of 8 months, authorities determined a drug trafficking ring led by Saul Ramon Rivera-Beltran, of Thornton, coordinated drug shipments and deals with a cartel in Mexico. Drug Ring Busted: DEA Says Group Was Dealing 2 Pounds Of Heroin Each Week In Denver Investigators say the group was dealing over two pounds (one kilogram) of heroin every week in Denver. I think the first and most immediate one, or the most obvious one, is just this question of federal legalization. "Without a doubt, our law enforcement here today have saved the lives of Coloradans," Weis said. Aurora Woman Who Was 'Kingpin' Of Drug Running Operation Sentenced To Prison. of methamphetamine, 4 lbs. They also took out paraphernalia consistent with illegal narcotic sales, a sawed-off shotgun and $9,434 in cash. First published on September 3, 2021 / 3:46 PM. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of overdose deaths in Colorado involving fentanyl more than doubled, from 222 to 540. Fentanyl is an opioid known for its potency. The Denver DEAs Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force led the investigation in partnership with Arvada police. Eagle County Detectives Make Major Drug Bust Involving Coke, Meth And Under the caregiving program, they could grow up to 500 plants. (CBS4) - The U.S. Department of Justice says a drug strike force dismantled a major drug dealing operation which was working in Denver and Aurora. 35 arrested after multiple drug busts across Maine, New Hampshire border. ", First published on December 2, 2021 / 10:11 AM. Woman charged as federal 'kingpin' in major metro Denver-wide drug bust If convicted as a drug kingpin, she faces 20 years to life in federal prison. I had to make a lot of decisions about what was a fair way to portray certain situations. Drug ring busted in Larimer County as authorities seize pot, cocaine COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4)- Police in Colorado Springs made a big drug bust in Fountain thanks to the help of K9 officer Sugar. The first batch of people were prosecuted by Weisers office and the 1st Judicial District Attorneys Office in Jefferson County, and two more series of indictments were filed in Adams County and are being prosecuted by the officers of Weiser and Mason. Colorado Meth Ring Bust: What Those Arrested are Up Against DENVER (CBS4) - The Drug Enforcement Administration announced a "major investigation" involving the seizure of 110,000 fentanyl-laced pills in the Denver metro area. According to the indictments and other court documents, following an investigation that began in late 2018, agents seized approximately 400 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of heroin, four pounds of cocaine, and 15,000 fentanyl pills, which were disguised to look like prescription oxycodone. The fentanyl is believed to have been manufactured south of the U.S. border, and smuggled into the U.S. and eventually brought to Colorado. Of the 30 defendants indicted, 24 have been arrested and one is in state custody on a separate charge. Of the 30 indicted,24 were arrested and one is in state custody on a separate charge. So, all of which to say, federal legalization is a step towards combating some of these problems, but it's a long road ahead. $11.5M bust of drug-trafficking network largest ever in city - CBC Eight of the 19 people indicted in the trafficking ring remained at large Wednesday, officials said. Was that a fear of yours? Would we have as much black market activity, and would a group like this have been able to pull off the feat they did, if we had just across-the-country legal cannabis? Fentanyl has been found mixed with or in place of oxycodone tablets, cocaine, and heroin in the Denver area, according to DDPHE. Posted: Feb 19, 2020 / 06:11 PM . TORONTO - Twenty people are facing rafts of charges each and more than $61 million worth of cocaine, crystal meth and marijuana was seized in what Toronto police are calling the largest drug . "I cannot overstate how dangerous that was to the community," Dunn said. December 2, 2021 / 10:11 AM The Aurora Police Department assisted in the seizure on Amherst Circle. I mean, it was the largest pot bust in Colorado since the state had legalized recreational weed in 2012. DENVER (KDVR) Police have announced a significant drug bust in Denver that turned up more than 200 pounds of drugs, including meth, cocaine, heroin, crack and thousands of fentanyl pills.. Updated: 10:33 PM MST February 19, 2020 DENVER A woman who's accused of being the ringleader of a large drug ring operation in the Denver metro area has been charged as a kingpin, a. You can find more resources about fentanyl at www.denvergov.org. The unforgiving cycle of methamphetamine and opioid addiction is causing catastrophic damage to American families. October 9, 2022 at 11:49 a.m. I spent considerable time trying to get in touch with each and every person. I mean, it thoroughly dismantled this group. On the drug smuggler side, it was a horrific experience, having a SWAT team bust through your windows and explode flash bangs in your home and terrorize your family. Feds bust prolific drug cartel suspected of pumping huge amounts of Cash, guns and several vehicles were also seized, according to Phillips. DEA Denver Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge David Olesky said a year ago, a large seizure would have been anywhere from 5,000-10,000 . Acting DEA Administrator Timothy Shea announced the bust at a press conference Wednesday. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Drug Enforcement Administration Denver Field Division, Photos from the DEA show thousands of fentanyl pills and several pounds of meth seized in the dismantling of a drug trafficking organization, Colorado law enforcement officials announce arrest of 64 in international drug trafficking ring, Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Provisional data from 2021 indicates that fentanyl is present in nearly 50% of all accidental drug-related deaths in Denver, according to the Denver Department of Public Health and. Law enforcement identified the shop as Supreme Auto Body which was not. "With 28 firearms seized, multiple hand grenades, high-capacity magazines and several sets of body armor, this organization was preparing for battle," Olesky said during Wednesday's news conference. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Acting DEA Administrator Timothy Shea announced the bust at a press conference Wednesday. DENVER Twenty-one people have been charged in Colorado for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking ring linked to a Mexican cartel, according to law enforcement officials. In 2018, an average of nine Coloradans a month died of illicit fentanyl overdose. Updated: Feb 19, 2020 / 06:11 PM MST. . EAGLE, Colo. (CBS4) - Detectives pulled off a major drug bust in the Eagle Vail area, arresting Matthew DeAngelo at a home. It sounds like a movie. Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips said the technique aims to increase profits and prevent users from knowing the lethal consequences of their narcotics. 'This Organization Was Preparing For Battle': Colorado Authorities Ontario Provincial Police unveiled details of the investigation and a display of the evidence seized during operation DAYTONA in Ottawa Thursday Jan 30, 2020. 2020 / 06:11 PM MST. The police investigation into Mills led police to search two homes, one in the 3000 block of North Race Street and another in the 12100 block of Amherst Circle in Aurora. Whenever we take drugs off of our streets, we make our community a safer place in which to live, Mason said in a statement. (CBS4) - The U.S. Department of Justice says a drug strike force dismantled a major drug dealing operation which was working in Denver and Aurora. Candelaria Vallejo-Gallo, who lives in Aurora, was charged as a federal drug kingpin. Last year, 540 Coloradans died of fentanyl overdoses. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Forty-two percent of illicit fentanyl pills tested by the DEA nationwide contained at least 2 mg of fentanyl, considered a potentially lethal dose. In 2015, Joe was caught with $374,000, a gun, and 66 pounds of marijuana. N.S. RCMP arrest 14 people, seize 'significant quantity of drugs Denver Health Officials Warn About Increase In Deadly Overdoses Linked By Shelly Bradbury. Then if you only had the perspective of the drug smuggling group, it would be skewed in another direction. Right. The DEA began its investigation in April 2021. Authorities: Major drug bust in Denver shows Mexican cartels' reach What I hope you take away from the indictment today of 19 people who were peddling poison in our community is that one pill alone can kill, 18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner said, noting law enforcement likely saved thousands of lives by confiscating the pills. Daniel Valentine, 42, was arrested in the bust that happened last week. The DEA says this fentanyl bust is part of a national crisis. Four of those charges related to a drug felony in a public park. Colorado law enforcement officials on Wednesday announced the indictment by the 18th Judicial District grand jury of 19 people on 20 felonies in connection to the multi-state drug trafficking ring. December 30, 2020. In his new podcast "The Syndicate," journalist Chris Walker goes beyond some of the case's flashy details, speaking to both the members of the criminal organization and the law enforcement agents who took them down, and uncovers how the push for legal marijuana in some states actually drives up black market demand nationally. Tweet. DEA agents began the investigation in April by focusing on a single person, Samuel Padilla Romo. A Boogie wit da Hoodie (nee Artist Dubose) - Dec. 7; the Bronx, NY-born rapper was arrested at his home in Demarest, NJ and charged with possession of marijuana and several handguns; two other men were also charged; had a No. New episodes of "The Syndicate" debut every Tuesday. All are facing numerous charges for possession and distribution of illegal drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. Then there is state involvement as well. This has happened in Canada, for instance, where there are jurisdictions with just no pot shops, so everyone in that jurisdiction who wants to buy weed has to get it from a black market dealer, right? Officials says 30 people were indicted. Elise Schmelzer is the public safety reporter at The Denver Post and covers policing, crime and criminal justice. drug trafficking - The Denver Post This is a part of the story that is told very differently depending on who you talk to. But that's not to say that there isn't also a thriving black market in states that have legalized weed. There's a lot of considerations that need to be carefully weighed to make sure we can slowly chip away at the black market. Investigators said they used confidential informants, undercover agents, surveillance and phone taps to trace the movements of those involved and the drugs they were moving across state lines and around the Denver metro. They were using skydiving planes to ship pot out of state. Officials say Candelaria Vallejo-Gallo is from Mexico and was in the country illegally. The show covers some pretty dramatic SWAT raids that happened when the group was busted. He confessed to police everything he knew about Nguyen's operation, overturning the largest pot smuggling drug ring in Colorado since legalization. Task Force Takes Down Large Drug Operation In Denver & Aurora It was a collection of all these college friends and their family members that came from Minnesota to Colorado to hide undercover in the legal market. CBS4's Karen Morfitt spoke to Marion Rorke, Substance Use Coordinator for DDPHE, in February about the program that launched in September 2021. "Overdoses caused by fentanyl can happen faster and are harder to stop than those caused by other opioids," DDPHE said. 110,000 fentanyl pills seized from Denver stash houses; 19 indicted in Police in Ontario seize $12 million worth of drugs | CTV News Moreover, it would answer this main question in my mind, "If Colorado had a seemingly thriving legal market, why would you take risks to set up this massive black market operation?". For me as a journalist that specializes in narrative stories, I feel like some of those details are necessary if you're really going to delve into a lot of policy angles and bigger picture questions about the law and justice in the United States. Mills was arrested at the Race Street location. An eight-month investigation into a drug trafficking ring based in metro Denver led law enforcement to seize 110,000 fentanyl pills, 13 pounds of meth, 8 pounds of heroin, 24 pounds of cocaine. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "This investigation is not about the amount of drugs seized or number of people arrested," said Olesky. Eagle County Detectives Make Major Drug Bust Involving Coke, Meth And Magic Mushrooms September 3, 2021 / 3:46 PM / CBS Colorado EAGLE, Colo. (CBS4) - Detectives pulled off a major drug. By holding accountable the high-level organizers of this criminal enterprise and halting the spread of dangerous drugs, we can help save lives in Colorado. 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They said that several ringleaders of the organization were indicted on violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act and the Colorado Controlled Substances Act. You can listen to the first three episodes hereor listen in the player below. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Pretty much every other reporter in Denver had moved on from the story. Police arrested the alleged drug dealers in Colorado, Arizona, and California. Drug bust - definition of drug bust by The Free Dictionary The officials said that 1 in every 4 of those pills, known as M30s, contained a lethal dose of fentanyl. RELATED: More than $60,000 in cocaine seized from Edwards mobile home. It was all about greed and making money, said David Olesky, acting special agent in charge of the Denver Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. With a big bust like this one, there are almost always an array of charges involved. OPP Project Daytona nets 12 arrests in major Eastern Ontario drug bust 20 people charged, $61M worth of drugs seized in largest bust in June 17, 2020 at 5:33 p.m. Officials with the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force arrested six people and seized methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, pot, counterfeit . So, I had to wait until April 2019 for all the court cases to be concluded. Vallejo-Gallo is a Mexican national in the country unlawfully, who has been charged with operating a continuing criminal enterprise which is also known as a drug kingpin charge. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. April 28, 2020 / 11:48 AM PHOTO BY QUINCY SNOWDON/Sentinel Colorado. 35 arrested after multiple drug busts at Maine, NH border This press conference made a splash. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Please enter valid email address to continue. 2020 / 07:49 PM MDT. Armed with search warrants, several police units converged on two residences in the community on Sept. 15, the Nipissing West Ontario Provincial Police said in a . Drug kingpins dont always touch the drugs but they do always touch the money.. Tell me a little bit about how you became acquainted with the story that's presented in "The Syndicate." Public health officials advise anyone who uses substances or knows someone who uses substances to not only share this warning but to also take tangible steps to help prevent deaths. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "The operation resulted in the seizure of over 400 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 15,000 fentanyl pills, five pounds of heroin and over four pounds of cocaine," said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. 1,143 grams of cocaine 2,931 grams of synthetic cannabis 1 litre of Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) $60,010 cash Eight people have been charged and more than a quarter million dollars in drugs and cash. So the idea of being a small "mom and pop" operation and starting from humble roots pardon the pun is just not feasible in many places. That's just in the city of Denver alone. September 3, 2021 / 3:46 PM Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. Arthur Mills, 59, was arrested on Thursday, according to the Denver Police Department. If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. N.S. The find was part of a coordinated Aurora drug bust announced Feb. 19, 2020. We're seeing multimillion dollar bidding wars for the limited licenses that come up in the new markets. Example video title will go here for this video. Authorities say they seized about 400 lbs. That included nearly 35 pounds of meth, nearly 10 pounds of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl. / CBS Colorado. That includes carrying naloxone with you. Major drug bust in Denver shows Mexican cartels' reach If you're doing that in a state like Minnesota, you have a couple options. The massive bust was a collaboration between Carroll County, New Hampshire and Maine. "The influx of fake prescription opioids is a growing and deadly concern for this office. In Denver, the Denver Department of Health reported "the percentage change in drug-related deaths for the six months of January-June from 2019 to 2020 was 83%, with fentanyl-related overdose deaths experiencing a 354% increase in those same timeframes." Fentanyl alone drove the increase in opioid deaths in 2020, according to the Colorado Health Institute. In a news release, DDPHE said from 2020 to 2021, fentanyl-involved deaths have increased by 41%, from 159 to 222. Candelaria Vallejo-Gallo, who is in the U.S. illegally, was arrested at her home in Aurora last week and charged with operating a continuing criminal enterprise (CCE), also known as drug kingpin charge. Peel saw 191 fatal drug overdoses in 2021 -- up from. Most of the arrests were made last week following a law enforcement operation that began in late 2018. Published August 18, 2020 6:00PM (EDT) The Syndicate (Photos provided by publicist/Salon) Facebook Twitter Email save In October 2014, SWAT team officers and DEA agents kicked down the doors of. DENVER (KDVR) Law enforcement announced Wednesday the results of a very significant operation that resulted in the arrest and charging of more than two dozen members of a major Mexican drug trafficking operation based in Denver. You can try to do it outside, but that's seriously exposed and easy to see from the air. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Some of those details did come out in the initial media coverage and press conference around the bust in 2015. Then on the law enforcement side, it's like, "Oh, well, this is absolutely justified because these people are so dangerous.". They'd covered the bust, but they were on to other things. In Denver, the Denver Department of Health reported "the percentage change in drug-related deaths for the six months of January-June from 2019 to 2020 was 83%, with fentanyl-related overdose deaths experiencing a 354% increase in those same timeframes."